On-chain data analytics firm Glassnode has identified an intriguing shift in retail investor preference, spotlighting XRP as a focal point of speculative interest. The findings, which come from Glassnode’s newly published report titled “Rippling Away,” reveal that while Bitcoin market indicators edge closer to a bearish zone, XRP has seen remarkable inflows of capital and user activity—albeit with signs of waning momentum.

According to Glassnode’s report, Bitcoin has been consolidating between the $76,000 and $87,000 price range. Indicators such as the Realized Profit/Loss Ratio are showing “signs of near-term seller exhaustion but not yet a renewal of sustained bullish momentum.”

Furthermore, a longer-term on-chain “Death-Cross” suggests the market’s current weakness could persist for some time. “Supply in loss remains elevated at 4.7M BTC,” the report states, underlining the depth of investor stress. These conditions, as Glassnode notes, paint a picture of “deepening bearish conditions” for the leading cryptocurrency.

Retail Flocks To XRP

In contrast to Bitcoin’s cautionary signals, Glassnode points to XRP as a proxy for heightened retail speculation this cycle. The report highlights: “For this cycle in particular, Ripple (XRP) has been a preferred asset for trade amongst retail investors, and studying its behavior can, therefore, serve as a proxy for measuring retail speculative demand.”

From the 2022 cycle low, XRP’s daily active addresses have “jumped by +490%” on a quarterly average basis, while Bitcoin’s rose by only 10%. This sharp divergence underscores the retail community’s enthusiasm for XRP, which Glassnode views as indicative of broader speculative appetite in the market.

The enthusiasm for XRP translated into a near-doubling of its Realized Cap—leaping from $30.1 billion to $64.2 billion during its rally from December 2024 to early 2025. Glassnode estimates that approximately $30 billion of this new capital came in over the last six months, pointing to a fresh wave of market participants.

Alongside the short surge in capital flows, there’s been a rapid concentration of wealth in the hands of new investors,” the report explains. However, Glassnode also warns: “When viewed together with the heavy retail participation, this sharp uplift in new holders raises caution signs.”

Glassnode warns that these new investors are vulnerable to downside volatility, especially as XRP’s cost basis becomes more top-heavy. Thus, despite initial excitement, the report notes a cooling of speculative interest since late February 2025.

Glassnode’s Realized Loss/Profit Ratio for XRP has declined steadily since January 2025, suggesting a slip in profitability and “waning confidence.” This might reflect a more fragile market structure, where large swaths of relatively new holders face mounting paper losses.

“The XRP market is showing signs of a top-heavy structure, with many investors caught on a relatively high-cost basis,” the report adds. This fragility in XRP’s positioning could also imply broader caution for retail-driven altcoin markets.

Overall, Glassnode’s latest research underscores the dichotomy in today’s digital asset landscape. While Bitcoin’s drift below $80,000 spurred increased losses for long-term holders, XRP’s meteoric rise and subsequent slowdown depict a market driven by short-term retail enthusiasm that may be approaching saturation.

“For more speculative assets like XRP, demand may have already peaked,” the report concludes, “suggesting caution may be warranted until signs of a robust recovery start to emerge.”

At press time, XRP traded at $2.00.